The announcement came at the International Astronautical Congress currently underway in Beijing. When complete, the station would be capable of housing astronauts on long-term missions in orbit, Wang Zhaoyao, the director of the China Manned Space Agency, told the BBC. In 2003, China became the third country to independently launch a human into space and has been expanding its space program at a rapid pace ever since, the BBC reports.

March 3 2015 1:39 PMThe “Most Pleasurable Portrayal of Libertarianism“ Bonus SegmentDavid, Emily, and John discuss what Parks and Recreation got right about government.Emily Bazelon, David Plotz, and John Dickerson